JAP is vehicle for 2017 poll, says Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has ruled out a coalition in the 2017 General Election, saying there will be only one party – the Jubilee Alliance Party.

Mr Ruto, who spoke in Narok on Tuesday, said the squabbles in coalitions and coalition governments were an indication that time had come for the Jubilee affiliates to unite and form a single party for the next elections.

“In 2013, we sought election under the Jubilee coalition, which brought together TNA, URP, APK, GNU, New Ford Kenya, among other parties. In 2017, since we have decided to unite all Kenyans. We will not run under a coalition but under one party, the Jubilee Alliance Party,” he said.

Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by Governor Samuel Tunai and Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, among others, also said he would support President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017, and put on hold his presidential ambitions until 2022.

“We will all unite in support of President Kenyatta under the Jubilee Alliance Party,” he said.

The DP called on leaders to fulfil their political pledges “instead of dividing Kenyans along tribal lines for selfish ends.

“If we want Kenyans to remain united, how will it happen if we are dividing them,” he said.

He urged opposition leaders to give Jubilee a chance to serve Kenyans and accused them of interrupting government functions.

“If you have no patience to be led, then you also have no qualities to lead,” he said.

Mr Ruto called on Narok leaders to stop wrangling and serve the people. “You should unite the people”, he said.

The DP announced that the government had set aside Sh425 million to improve health infrastructure at the Narok Referral Hospital and another Sh380 million to buy equipment for the Kilgoris Hospital. He also said a contractor has been identified to tarmac the Narok-Mwisho wa Lami-Nakuru road.

The work starts next week.